There is more to be desired in a man, who has continually subscribe to an oath of allegiance and office in a bid to bring his leadership prowess to bear on a people with diverse language, culture and ethnic leaning.
In his new found romance with oath-taking and art of governance, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Sunday, May 29, 2011 subscribed to a third oath as the governor of oil and gas rich Delta State.
A school of thought say, the many oaths could strengthen his resolve to turn things around for the common good of all, just as Uduaghan, in his inaugural address said, “I stand here today as the only Governor in Nigeria to have taken an oath of office three times, while serving. I believe that these unusual developments in Delta state serve in deepening our practice of democracy in our country”.
The oaths of governance in Delta state between 2007 and 2011 are four. While Uduaghan bagged three with his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Prince Sam Obi garnered one for himself as an acting governor.
The first oaths was administered by retired Justice Roseline Bozimo on Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the second on Prince Sam Obi and the third and fourth were again administered on Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan by Justice Z. Abiodun Smith.
At the swearing in ceremony attended by Uduaghan’s former rival in the April governorship poll, candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and ministerial nominee, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, the governor stated that, “For me and I believe for most of the people in this state, election is not war; it is just a contest of ideas. Our victory, your victory, shows your acceptance of our ideas over that of others. In this regard, I do not see winners and losers in this contest. Instead, I see as a people who have made a decision about our future. Therefore we are all winners.”
“Elections are over, the state must move forward. The time for partisan politics has passed. The time to unite and build the Delta state of our dream is now. A state where the future of our children born and unborn will be guaranteed”.
